Lobelia plant named ‘Loplipw08’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant named “Loplipw08,’ particularly distinguished by the spreading to upright plant habit, medium vigor, early flowering and purple-violet flower color.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lobelia erinus.

Varietal denomination: ‘Loplipw08’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Lobelia, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Loplipw08.’

‘Loplipw08’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Loplipw08’ has spreading to upright plant habit, medium vigor, early flowering and purple-violet flower color.

‘Loplipw08’ originated from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘E0055-1’ with pink flowers. ‘E0055-1’ has smaller flowers, a more upright habit and is less floriferous than ‘Loplipw08.’

The male parent of ‘Loplipw08’ was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘D0044-1’ with bluish-purple color. ‘D0044-1’ has more vigor and lighter green foliage than ‘Loplipw08.’

‘Loplipw08’ was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May, 2004 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The pollination took place in July 2003, the seed sown in March 2004.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Loplipw08’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 2004 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in June 2004 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Loplipw08’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Loplipw08’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the Community Plant Variety Office on Apr. 22, 2008. ‘Loplipw08’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Loplipw08’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in July 2008 on plants that were growing in field trials. These plants were approximately 22 weeks old.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Lobelia as a new and distinct variety.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘LOBLIPW08’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Loblilaca’ (U.S. Plant ‘Loblipw08’ Pat. No. 17,722) Vigor Medium Very vigorous Flower color N82C 80A Flowering response Earlier Later

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Spreading to upright, freely             branching with lateral branching at every node. Pinching             will enhance branching. Branches are strong and flexible.         -   Plant height.—25 cm.         -   Plant width.—35 cm.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and freely branching. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Alternate.         -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 144A.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 144A.         -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Length.—1.0-3.0 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Ligulate to falcate.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire to occasionally dentate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 137C. -   Stem:     -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 146B.         -   Length of stem.—Approximately 20-24 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2-0.25 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1-3 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 146B.         -   Length of peduncle.—2 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Flowers at apical axils, usually one flower per axil.             Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of two small petals             and lower lip consisting of three larger and broader petals.             Flowers face outward and are freely and continuously             flowering.         -   Lastingness on plant.—10-14 days depending on temperature.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—120-160. -   BUD (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 82D.         -   Length.—0.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Depth of flower.—1.6 cm.         -   Diameter of flower.—1.4 cm.         -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—RHS N82C, basal marking             of RHS N82A.         -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—RHS N82D.         -   Length of upper petals.—0.5 cm.         -   Width of upper petals.—0.2 cm.         -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—RHS N82C, near base             marking of RHS N82A and basal white spot of RHS N155A.         -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—RHS N82D.         -   Length of lower petals.—0.8 cm.         -   Width of lower petals.—0.3-0.8 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex shape.—Mucronulate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, upper surface is slightly pubescent.         -   Throat.—Color: RHS N87C. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Depth: 0.6 cm.             Texture: Pubescent. Number of sepals: Five, fused at base.             Color of sepals: RHS 146B both surfaces. Length of sepals:             0.6 cm. Width of sepals: 0.1 cm. Sepal shape: Ligulate. Apex             shape: Acute. Margins: Entire. Texture: Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils, quantity per flower.—One.         -   Pistil length.—0.6 cm.         -   Pistil width.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 134D.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 83A.         -   Stigma shape.—Tri-lobed.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 144A.         -   Stamens, quantity per flower.—Five.         -   Anther color.—RHS 198A.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.         -   Pollen color.—Lighter than RHS 4D.         -   Pollen amount.—Slight. -   Seed and fruit development: Some seed and fruit development has been     observed on plants of the new Lobelia.     -   -   Seed (when mature).—Color: RHS 165A. Shape: Ovate. Diameter:             0.3 cm. Length: 0.2 cm.         -   Fruit (when ripened).—Color: 199B. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Length:             0.6 cm. Number of seeds per fruit: 200-300. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to     have a rather good garden performance. Plants of the new Lobelia     have been noted to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures from 7° C.     to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Lobelia plant named “Loplipw08,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 